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Teacher of the year
By Amber Peabody
This document was published online on Friday, September 21, 2007
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| Teacher Pete Idema (middle) works with Taylor Hubbell (left) and Tanner VanPelt during their fourth-hour science class at Cody Middle School. (Photo by Ken Blackbird) |
For someone who didn't want to teach eighth grade students, Pete Idema has come a long way.
Idema was recently named Cody Schools' “Teacher of the Year.”
“It's funny because I got my degree and my first choice was advanced biology at the high school level because of the content,” he said. “My second choice was sixth grade because of their enthusiasm, then seventh grade because of the content and freshmen because of the content. Eighth grade was my last choice.”
However, when an eighth-grade science position opened up at Cody Middle School, he applied. Idema was hesitant to take the job, but now has been in the position since 1997.
“I love the kids and I got interested in the eighth-grade content,” he said. “Teaching earth science is cool because it opened my eyes to astronomy and weather,” he said. “It's just fascinating to me.”
Idema graduated from Hope College in Holland, Mich., in 1989 with a bachelor of science degree and debated between teaching or working in the field of biology.
“At that time I chose biology and I spent three-and-a-half years as a field biologist,” he said. “After that I decided I wanted to go into the classroom, teach and share what I've learned.”
He received his master's degree from Abilene (Texas) Christian University in 1995. He started teaching biology in 1996 at Northwest College before the CMS position became available.
“I am proud to have Idema on my staff, and I am most impressed with his kindness, leadership and willingness to go the extra mile,” principal Larry Gerber said. “You will not find a person who is a better role model than Pete Idema.”
When Idema first started teaching he said he was more content-based. Now he tries to use content to help students make good decisions in science and life.
“I believe that my greatest contribution to education began after a couple of years of teaching when I realized that, while content is important, the most important part of education is teaching kids to learn to solve problems - to learn how to think rather than what to think,” he said.
Idema enjoys eighth graders because it's a transition year as students prepare for high school.
“They're old enough that you can talk to them and they're at a fairly mature level, but at the same time they're still open and able to be taught,” he said.
Idema said he wants to continue to grow as a teacher and find new ways to make things interesting for his students.
“With my own philosophy I have a long way to go before I'm teaching the way I think I ought to be,” he said.
He plans to use the surrounding area to better illustrate science concepts. He also has high hopes for the observatory that has a 14-inch telescope controlled by a computer, several smaller scopes and an astro-imaging camera.
“I'd like to see more utilization,” he said. “I'd like to see better integration across grade levels. It's an incredible facility for a middle school to have.”
Throughout the years other positions have opened up but Idema chose to remain in Cody with the grade he though he'd like the least.
“I'm sure seventh grade would be fun because the age is close and the content is great, but I'm enjoying what I thought would be my last choice. This is where I want to be.”
Idema is now in the running for Wyoming Teacher of the Year, which will be announced later this fall.
“It's wonderful to have teachers such as Idema,” School Board Chairman Dossie Overfield said. “His enthusiasm and willingness to strive for the best results from all our students is exemplary. The (school) board is proud to have him represent our teaching staff here in Cody and wish him the best at the state level.”
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